The Gauteng Department of Education has conceded that it’s fallen behind with payments to its service providers. This after affected bidders raised the alarm over the non-payment of security services and school nutrition service providers.

Security service providers have reportedly begun withdrawing their personnel from high-risk schools, while school nutrition service providers are unable to provide meals.

This has raised concerns over the safety and wellbeing of learners and educators in the province.

The department’s spokesperson Steve Mabona says, “It is true we had a cash flow challenge in the department that we then decided to prioritise and we have concluded the process and those service providers have been engaged.  We are capturing now all those payments this week and next week they should be receiving their money.”

[ON AIR] Gauteng’s schools are facing a growing crisis as months of unpaid invoices from the @EducationGP1 have left critical services like school security and meal provision in disarray. Service providers have begun withdrawing their personnel, raising serious concerns about the… pic.twitter.com/XFqH0so9fu

— SAfmRadio 📻 (@SAfmRadio) October 14, 2025

Mabona also says they have engaged with the Department of Community Safety to provide alternative means of security, as it can no longer afford to provide services.

“What we did with security because we cannot afford it in those high-risk areas, we then resorted to our partnership with the Department of Community Safety who will be using alternative means in terms of making sure that those schools are safe. So, we not continuing with the process of providing security in those high-risk areas.

 GDE admits to not having money to pay school nutrition service providers